This week’s small pleasures #182

Gosh what a week it has been…personally and globally. It is hard to know where to start. So, I will start with Monday last week, when I received this beautiful bouquet of flowers from my colleagues. It was much appreciated, so much enjoyed, and a real small pleasure. Thank you my friends!

I lost my appetite last week, and to tempt myself by adding in new tastes, I made this potato and scallopini (patty pan squash) dish from Peter Gordon’s most recent book. It was full of flavour – smoked paprika, olives, mushrooms, raisins and garlic – and was indeed rather good. You can see the photo in the book and my version below.

From Peter Gordon’s Savour: Salads for all Seasons

Actually, what I really enjoyed most were simple things like some good bread from Leeds Street Bakery and strong cheddar cheese. I did, however, also enjoy dinner at perennial favourite Field & Green on Friday, especially the starter of twice baked smoked trevally soufflé with chive sauce

Being at home, I also rediscovered my egg coddler (last mentioned here in 2016…..). I ate eggs a couple of times this way, and highly recommend this if you can find one in a second hand shop somewhere as Royal Worcester, which made mine, doesn’t seem to produce them any more. Of course, a smoked salmon toast at Squirrel brightened up my day on Saturday morning.

Being at home, it was important to get out, and we are lucky in being so close to the Botanic Gardens for walks and fresh air. On Friday, I spent ages in the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens enjoying the last of the season’s roses and looking at the stunning view from the herb garden. A real small pleasure.

The week ended with a dance performance by former students at the New Zealand School of Dance and a barbecue in the sunshine with friends. A good end to a week I won’t forget.

So wherever you are, take care and look out for those little things that bring you joy in these turbulent times. What were your small pleasures of the week past? 

Thanks to Mani over at A New Life Wandering for the original idea.

You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram@thistleandkiwis.  As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days.  If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com